The Dallas Morning News turned to an expert in political misinformation at the University of Cincinnati to explain how extremists seized on a fatal dispute between two high school students to sow racial discord in Texas.
High school student Karmelo Anthony is scheduled to stand trial in June on charges of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of fellow student athlete Austin Metcalf after the two boys got into an argument under a tent designated for Austin's team during a lightning storm.
According to the newspaper, witnesses told police that Karmelo reached inside his bag and said, "Touch me and see what happens." Austin touched him, and Karmelo replied, "Punch me and see what happens." The police report says Austin grabbed Karmelo, who pulled out a knife and stabbed him once in the chest and ran. He was arrested minutes later and told police through hysterical tears that he was defending himself, the Dallas Morning News reported.
The incident prompted a flurry of comments on social media alleging the stabbing was motivated by racism.
UC Professor Jeffrey Blevins told the Dallas Morning News that commentary surrounding the incident did not push a single false narrative but rather a number of different falsehoods seemingly designed to sow discord and distrust in institutions, including law enforcement and the courts.
"It's a firehose of falsehoods," Blevins said. "It's designed to create chaos and confusion."
Blevins teaches political science in UC's School of Public and International Affairs. He is the co-author of the 2024 book "Social Media and Digital Politics: Networked Reason in an Age of Digital Emotion."
The Dallas Morning News noted that in an interview on Fox News just a day after the incident, Austin's father, Jeff Metcalf, urged people to stop spreading unfounded rumors.
"This was not a race thing, and this was not a political thing. Please do not comment if you do not know what happened. This is a human being thing," he told Fox News.
Featured image at top: UC Professor Jeffrey Blevins teaches political science in UC's School of Public and International Affairs. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC
